The Minnesota Twins have announced that they acquired left-handed pitcher Kris Johnson from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for right-handed pitcher Duke Welker.
Johnson, 29, went 0-2, 6.10 ERA (10.1 IP) in four games (1 start) for the Pirates last season. The 6-foot-4, 195-pounder went 10-4, 2.39 ERA (135.2 IP, 36 ER) with 43 walks and 94 strikeouts in 26 games (21 starts) for Triple-A Indianapolis. He was originally drafted by the Red Sox in the first round (40th overall) of the 2006 draft out of Wichita State University.
Welker, 27, was acquired by the Twins on Oct. 5 as the player-to-be-named later in the Justin Morneau/Alex Presley trade with Pittsburgh Aug. 31.
Welker went 3-4, with a 3.57 ERA (63.0 IP, 25 ER), nine saves, 31 walks and 65 strikeouts in 48 appearances for Triple-A Indianapolis last season. The 6-foot-7, 240-pounder also appeared in two games for the Pirates last season, pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
• Media reports say Twins prospect Eddie Rosario has been suspended for 50 games for violating the minor league drug policy.
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The 22-year-old second baseman was playing winter ball in Puerto Rico. He batted .329 in 52 games at Class A Fort Myers, then .284 in 70 games at Class AA New Britain.
